PIA Press ReleaseSunday, January 08, 2012

30% DPWH accomplishment rate in 2011 due to poor weather condition

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 8 (PIA) -- Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)in Caraga region said that poor weather conditions hindered the agency from meeting its target in 2011.

Only 30 percent of DPWH's target projects in the region were accomplished last year, according to Maribeth Burgos, chief engineer of the DPWH-Caraga Construction Division.

She said, however, that the Butuan District Engineering Office managed to complete 70 percent of its projects in 2011.

Burgos said, in a radio interview, that the low accomplishment rate of the region was attributed to poor weather condition.

She said during the start of the year, Caraga Region was hit by massive flashfloods in all the provinces and cities.

In February last year, another massive flood hit the region engulfing the areas in the five provinces and six cities.

Since then, low pressure area (LPA) has continuously affected Caraga Region, causing some water systems in other areas to swell and overflowed which caused massive flooding.

Until the last quarter of 2011, some areas in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur were affected when tropical storm “Sendong” struck Northern Mindanao, devastating Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities, killing hundreds of people. Hundreds are still missing.

However, Burgos said the agency is determined to finish the uncompleted projects in 2012.

Further, the official expressed hope that Caraga Region will experience improved weather conditions this year. (PIA-Caraga)